Layoffs At MTV “Purely Creative”

Today, The Hollywood Reporter has more information about Tuesday’s layoffs at MTV Networks.

First, THR said the number of axed employees was only “50-something” and not the 75 of previous reports. And, in an interview with MTV’s president of programming Tony DiSanto, THR learned that a majority of the layoffs were part of a broader reorganization of MTV.

“It was not done for financial reasons, it was purely creative — an overhaul of the organization to better meet the creative needs of MTV,” DiSanto told the industry trade.

DiSanto said that seven executives under him and his number two, Liz Gateley — about half of MTV’s development team — were let go, including senior VPs Maira Suro and Aaron Meyerson, who worked on the scripted and unscripted sides, respectively.

DiSanto is now putting together a new creative structure for the network which will involve a New York-based comedy team led senior VP Brent Haynes and a bicoastal series development team led by Gateley, THR said.

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